Tuesday, February 16, 2010

The not so Grand Tour has managed to release a bit more info on their season opening event in Venice with a link to a YouTube kite-cam video of the venue (and a Google--or was that Yahoo?--map of the location.) Turns out there's a nice park on the edge of the lagoon in Mestre. It's close to the airport and the Mestre train station and you can see Venice across the water from the park. The kite cam might have sounded like a good idea but it was a rather windy day. As a result the video is pretty disorienting as the kite spins, twists and whips wildly side to side and up and down. Would any other league promoter use such an eccentric tool to promote their event? Who else would put on an event in a country where ostensibly paintball is illegal? On those accounts alone the not so Grand Tour is VFTD's favorite least well attended tournament series.

Things continue apace in the Millennium with little change from last week--at least little publicly announced change. Registered team numbers are up by a couple of teams though still no indication of who is registered to play in the locked divisions. And it occurred to me that there hasn't been a formal announcement--not that I heard--of which teams will be promoted and/or relegated this year although that should simply be a formality as the mechanism is already in place. Unless ...? There's still lots of time before Malaga but it won't be too long before the pressure begins to mount to release participation numbers. I guess the question is will keeping everyone, including sponsors, in the dark help or hurt in the long run?

The NPPL posted their online registration (and i.d. card) forms yesterday. On both they are requested the players self-identify their current player ranking but a reasonable question might be: Based on what? It looks like the league would like to have a baseline set for their new database based on the standards of the system they don't use anymore. In a curious side note the only access to either registration form is the link attached to the announcement that online registration was now available. (The same announcement was duplicated in the News section of the nppl.com website. The registration link goes to a different page.) And the actual location of the registration forms is at www.uspl.tv. Regardless there is no listing (yet) identifying teams that have registered and paid and it will be interesting to see how long the league holds out before they list the competing teams. Particularly as the prize packages are tied to the number of participants in a given division. Meanwhile, the NPPL wants you to know spaces are limited.

The PSP is on the tightest schedule with the Phoenix Open just a month away and assorted odds and ends still to be resolved and/or announced. The divisional 'designated spectator' rule was canceled a couple of days ago causing some hubbub and there are other details still to be decided (Where are the rules? Will there be a webcast?) but in all likelihood the the league's attentions are mostly focused on sponsors--or the lack thereof--and the total number of teams paid and playing. In the format formerly known as xball registration was at 99 earlier today. Phoenix last year had 92 paid. Race2-2 currently has 39 registered. Last year there were 51 paid. Right now the numbers look like xball should be (could be) close to last year with Race 2-2 lagging somewhat. While there's still time the lower number of registrants suggests it probably won't match last year. And if that's the case it will be interesting to look at two other factors; Race 2-2 participation in the west coast affiliate leagues--are they drawing teams away from the PSP?--and 5-man registrations for HB. This year, more than ever, it's a numbers game. Everybody else still has some wiggle room. The PSP will be locked in first and we'll have a clear indication of what to expect the rest of the season for major league paintball around the world.

There are less people bothered by it because there are less people involved in it, to be bothered by it.

Tournament paintball is not particularly good from a business venture perspective. If there is no financial reward for people to drive the sport, it's up to volunteers to make things happen. Land, fields and equipment are expensive, so not only is there a volunteering of labour necessary, but also volunteering for fundraising if the sport is to sustan itself.

Finding participants to commit to the time and expense needed to play the game AND have them commit to fundraising and helping maintain a field is next to impossible.

Paintball is predominantly a young person's sport these days (you just can't run tournament ball with only young professional, financially independants as participants). How many parents are there out there who are going to believe little Johnny should spend ALL his time and All of his money (and probably a bunch of their money) playing a game that has very little long term benefit for him?

There is a difference between tourney ball and major league tourney ball. And there are significant differences between the different major leagues. Are things down? Yes. But except for the recession the NPPL's problems aren't the MS's problems.

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ABOUT

About Baca:
Baca Loco is the forum name I first used at P8ntballer.com and kept when I starting writing for PGi magazine, the late, lamented Paintball Games International. At various times I did gun reviews, event reports, the occasional feature, How-To’s & a monthly column entitled, View from the Deadbox. At one time or another I’ve done most everything you can do in paintball other than own a field or run a tourney series. For the last several years I have coached a number of pro teams and generally made a nuisance of myself whenever possible.

About VIEW FROM THE DEADOX:
One purpose of this blog is to encourage a dialogue about competitive paintball and permitting commenter anonymity is intended to encourage the participation of those who actually know what they are talking about. The rest of you are also welcome, even encouraged, to comment as well. (I don't really need any encouragement.)
The other purpose of this blog is to provide a focus for my attention deficit disorder and hold boredom at bay.

About my views:
Brilliant, visionary and almost always correct. Get used to it. Oh, and I'm humble too. Feel free to disagree as long as you are prepared to be wrong.

FAQ

How is paintball like golf? Golf is played outdoors on nice, well kept grass or, if something goes horribly wrong, off in the woods. Same with paintball.

How is a paintball made? What am I, Wikipedia?

Who are your sponsors? Who hasn't been one of my sponsors? I won't be trying to promote current sponsors on this blog nor will I take shots at non-sponsors. I don't give gun, goggle or gear advice so it really doesn't matter.

What's your view on cheating? It's wrong and has no place in the game. That's why I don't play scenario or Big Games.

What's your favorite marker? The free one.

Where did that awesome photo come from in the blog header? It is the work of photographer extraordinaire, Brandon Showers or the vixen with a Nikon (or maybe a Canon) Meagan Foster.

What's your favorite team? Grow up.

Who started the Rec vs. Tourney war? Some will say that's just the way it's always been. Others claim it's natural for the sides to be at odds. I say, aren't we all brothers under the goggles? I'm not sure but ask yourself who benefits? Follow the money. Could it be a covert plot of the Military Simulation Industrial Complex? As long as the war rages on there will be a demand for more paint, more markers and Big Paintball will continue to count its profits instead of the cost. Give peace a chance. That's all that I'm saying.

How do I get sponsored? You don't.

Will you send me any free stuff if I tell you what a big fan I am? No.

Is agg dead yet? Yes, it's time to move on to some new uber hip trendiness that everyone can follow to demonstrate their individuality.

Is it true the inside of Ollie Lang's gearbag smells like roses? No, strawberries and cream.